Maybe a bit premature. Keep in mind that he spent a lot of last season in the AHL. He couldn't even crack a not great Phoenix team, and they practically gave him away for nothing. He's a champ on faceoffs, but Crosby, Staal, and Talbot have all improved a great deal since they came into the league. Remember how they got their last two faceoff/PK specialists - Hall on a camp tryout and Zigomanis for less than the normal waiver fee. I'd prefer he stays based on what I've seen, but if it's another situation like Hall where a team wants to guarantee him three years, let him go. Dustin Jeffrey appears to be a solid third/fourth line center prospect.

Nice. I thought I was the only one who sees resign for what it means, as opposed to re-sign.

So many people post it that way, I always have to do a double take.

Its one of those little things that bothers me that really shouldn't. Best thing ever though. In a preseason scrimmage game when Kovalev was here, I was down first row on the glass next to the penalty box. Kovalev gets a penalty of some kind and is in the box. The girl behind me is holding a sign up to the glass and he is looking at her really puzzled. When he leaves the box I turn around and look at the sign as she pulls it away, and I guess her dad looked at it at the same time. Her dad was like, "you just told Kovalev to resign". I never looked back again so I couldn't tell if she was crying, but she was pretty upset for a few minutes. I was rather amused.

Henry Hank wrote:Maybe a bit premature. Keep in mind that he spent a lot of last season in the AHL. He couldn't even crack a not great Phoenix team, and they practically gave him away for nothing. He's a champ on faceoffs, but Crosby, Staal, and Talbot have all improved a great deal since they came into the league. Remember how they got their last two faceoff/PK specialists - Hall on a camp tryout and Zigomanis for less than the normal waiver fee. I'd prefer he stays based on what I've seen, but if it's another situation like Hall where a team wants to guarantee him three years, let him go. Dustin Jeffrey appears to be a solid third/fourth line center prospect.

Perhaps Crosby, Staal, and Max have all improved greatly this year under the tutelage of Ziggy? Not saying yes or no but they are all showing great increases this year. Could be maturation or insight from a great draw man.

I remember reading that Tom Fitzgerald had been working with the centers on faceoffs, so if anything I'd probably give him more credit. Crosby and Staal already seemed to have gotten it by last season, especially the playoffs. Talbot's really shot up, though. He went from ~42% last year to over 60% right now.

resigning Talbot should be priority #1 as of now - playing with Crosby for an extended amount of time is only going to raise the starting pricei really hope Shero does not go into next summer with as much "in house" business as last year

Nice. I thought I was the only one who sees resign for what it means, as opposed to re-sign.

So many people post it that way, I always have to do a double take.

Its one of those little things that bothers me that really shouldn't. Best thing ever though. In a preseason scrimmage game when Kovalev was here, I was down first row on the glass next to the penalty box. Kovalev gets a penalty of some kind and is in the box. The girl behind me is holding a sign up to the glass and he is looking at her really puzzled. When he leaves the box I turn around and look at the sign as she pulls it away, and I guess her dad looked at it at the same time. Her dad was like, "you just told Kovalev to resign". I never looked back again so I couldn't tell if she was crying, but she was pretty upset for a few minutes. I was rather amused.

Great story!For me . . . the grammar sensor is strong with this one.

I've been on BBs long enough to not nit-pick (unless I can make a funny).

However, the OP fixed the title, so our posts make little sense in this this thread now.

Henry Hank wrote:I remember reading that Tom Fitzgerald had been working with the centers on faceoffs, so if anything I'd probably give him more credit. Crosby and Staal already seemed to have gotten it by last season, especially the playoffs. Talbot's really shot up, though. He went from ~42% last year to over 60% right now.

But none of the names that you mentioned shoot right, so there's a plus for Zigomanis right there.

I'd say to go for it. While I don't know if we could get him on a two-way or not, it's not like it's going to cost a fortune. Tuck him in at the 4th line center (where we can stick a RH faceoff specialist anyway), with the promise of 3rd line time when he's playing really well.

But none of the names that you mentioned shoot right, so there's a plus for Zigomanis right there.

Definitely a good point. I guess my stance amounts to this - keep him only if it's a favorable deal and not a long commitment. He hasn't been a regular NHL'er even on bad teams, so it appears that there's some downside to him as well as the good we've seen. The way the Pens have been able to fill that role the last two seasons suggests these guys aren't that hard to find. I still can't believe Tampa gave Hall three years... well, I guess I can since it's Tampa.

But none of the names that you mentioned shoot right, so there's a plus for Zigomanis right there.

Definitely a good point. I guess my stance amounts to this - keep him only if it's a favorable deal and not a long commitment. He hasn't been a regular NHL'er even on bad teams, so it appears that there's some downside to him as well as the good we've seen. The way the Pens have been able to fill that role the last two seasons suggests these guys aren't that hard to find. I still can't believe Tampa gave Hall three years... well, I guess I can since it's Tampa.

I don't see any problem with that deal. Its $1.8 million over 3 years. Even if he busts, its not much of an investment. Considering what will be expected of him, its hard for him to bust.

But none of the names that you mentioned shoot right, so there's a plus for Zigomanis right there.

The way the Pens have been able to fill that role the last two seasons suggests these guys aren't that hard to find.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Praying_mantis#Conservation_status wrote:North American mantises are not included among threatened or endangered species, though species in other parts of the world are under threat from habitat destruction

Pens were actually 48.2% on faceoffs in the Finals... I'd say that's more of a slight advantage by Detroit rather than a massacre. Hall was at 57.7% so I don't know how much of a difference Zigomanis makes.